Tottenham Target, Moussa Dembélé, is Another Utility Player Who Plays as a Striker

Tottenham Hotspur are currently showing interest in the 19-year-old French international, Moussa Dembélé, who has an expiring contract that will run out next season.

Speaking to Get French Football News the 19-year-old Moussa Dembélé spoke of his current mindset regarding some transfer speculation, due to his expiring contract. Tottenham are interested in the French striker this January or next summer to help bolster their striking force and give Harry Kane a good complimentary partner up top.

The most important piece of information during this exclusive interview with Get French Football News, were the transfer rumors regarding Moussa Dembélé and if he would leave Fulham for a Premier League club such as Everton or Tottenham, the two clubs that have been linked to the French striker recently.

"Last summer, there was a lot of speculation about your future, but in the end you stayed at Fulham. Were you however happy to receive interest from some big names in European football?Every week the media is sending me to different clubs. It is funny and flattering but on a serious note I am focusing on Fulham and promotion to the Premier League. All the other things do not affect me that much. I don’t deceive. I give 100 percent every time I wear the shirt. For the rest, my agents are dealing with it."

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The Under-20 French international being a transfer target for Tottenham isn’t very surprising. During this past summer’s transfer window, Totenham were looking at a host of young strikers to potentially “sign” but didn’t for reasons unknown. Perhaps Spurs were doing their homework instead to see who could play at a different position if signed, because Harry Kane will be the team’s main striker no matter what.

While scoring goals wasn’t a problem last season, it was evident that there needed to be more goal scoring threats besides Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli from a year ago. Therefore, signing Clinton N’Jie and Son Heung-min was a good start. And for the South Korean international, Son, he has scored three goals in seven appearances for Spurs in all competitions before sustaining a foot injury — which he has since recovered from and will return to a starting role with Mousa Dembélé injured.

Clinton N’Jie, the Cameroon winger, is still trying to adapt to the Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino’s high-pressing style of play and understanding a whole new culture in England. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that N’Jie, even though he suffered a hamstring injury recently, is a slow developer when it comes to switching leagues and countries that Érik Lamela went through two years ago.

Back to both Clinton N’Jie and Son Heung-min, they can play as the lone striker in Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 formation if Harry Kane needs to get rest during Europa League fixtures, which N’Jie and Son have already done this season. But they’re more midfield-type players than out-and-out strikers instead. An out-and-out striker that Tottenham was linked to, happened to be Charlie Austin of Queens Park Rangers. No one else.

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Every other striker that Spurs were rumored to be interested in the summer can play other positions whether it’s out on the wings, or in an attacking midfield role. They were Saido Berahino, Anthony Martial, Timo Werner and James Wilson.

If Moussa Dembélé is added to this list, that’s five strikers who could play a different position. It’s no longer a coincidence that Mauricio Pochettino and Paul Mitchell are starting to look for utility-type of players rather than specialists.

Having that kind of flexibility to play multiple positions (Dele Alli, Mousa Dembélé, Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Clinton N’Jie and Son Heung-min to name a few) and being able to slot into different positions in case of injury, as a substitute, or rotating the squad helps the team navigate through a busy November and December when the schedule starts to become congested.

Therefore, if Moussa Dembélé is signed when his contract expires next summer or as early as this January, not only will Dembélé be Harry Kane’s understudy and backup striker, but he will also be rotational player in the left and right midfield positions as well as being the team’s lone striker when needed.

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Whoever Tottenham signs to be Harry Kane’s backup, they won’t be a specialist at the striker position. Now, that’s not necessarily bad since Harry Kane can play deeper in the number 10 role behind another striker, but it’s obvious that this team is now more well-rounded with players who can play everywhere on the pitch. This offers plenty of options and combinations for Mauricio Pochettino to tinker with.